O-RAN Performance Analyzer: Platform Design, Development, and Deployment

The open radio access network (O-RAN) represents a paradigm shift in RAN architecture, integrating intelligence into communication networks via xApps — control applications for managing RAN resources. This integration facilitates the adoption of AI for network optimization and resource management. However, there is a notable gap in practical network performance analyzers capable of assessing the functionality and efficiency of xApps in near real-time within operational networks. Addressing this gap, this article introduces a comprehensive network performance analyzer, tailored for the near-real time RAN intelligent controller. We present the design, development, and application scenarios for this testing framework, including its components, software, and tools, providing an end-to-end solution for evaluating the performance of xApps in O-RAN environments.